Feedback required THE WEEKEND PLUMBER

ckerrd

Good god almighty this seems to have become ridiculous!

If Plumb1 wants to charge a premium for working at times when others don't then he can. If people do not want to use his service and can arrange for the work to be done during office (sic) hours then he will not generate as much work as he hoped.


!!!!!! all to do with overtime etc.

ftbworried

When I got my boiler replaced, the plumber offered to do it on a saturday as a matter of course- he didn't charge extra and I WOULDNT have used him if he did.

ckerrd

ftbworried wrote:

When I got my boiler replaced, the plumber offered to do it on a saturday as a matter of course- he didn't charge extra and I WOULDNT have used him if he did.

Indeed - supply and demand. If Plumb1 has a captive market then he can charge what he likes, but if there is competition not charging a premium, he may have to revise his rates.

BobProperty

derrick - your argument is full of sweeping generalisations and a lack of understanding of how business works. You appear to live in a world where everyone works 40 hours a week and gets paid extra if they work more than that.

"And you must know a lot of rip off merchants,"
I don't "know a lot of rip off merchants" but if everyone who charges you more than what you think is the going rate, is in your definition "a rip off merchant" then I think it's you who has a problem.

"although this post is not related to out of hours, it is doing less hours for more money,(the premium)."
Isn't that what everyone aspires to? More money for less hours? Is there something wrong with that?

"You cannot state the premium rate until you know the normal rate, but is usually 1½ the normal for Saturday ad 2 times for Sunday, but lets not forget these are for additional hours, the OP is NOT doing additional hours, and will have a "normal rate"

Firstly, given that you, me and plumb1 are in the Lancashire/Cheshire area, you tell me what the "normal" rate is for a plumber, in £/hour.
Second, according to your definition, if plumb1 worked 16 hours both Saturday and Sunday then went to another customer on Monday and did 16 hours work, he would be entitled to charge time and half for for 8-10 of the hours on Monday.

"(Oh and rate isn't connected to how good you are, but that's another discussion)

Of course it is, I would pay more for some one to do a good job first time round than a cheaper price for some one who does not do it right and has to keep coming back, and there are a lot of them out there, just watch Watchdog."

And you can tell how? They haven't been on Watchdog? Suppose they are really talented but have just gone Self Employed and need the work and customers, so they're cheaper than the competition while they build up their business? Suppose they are the proverbial Polish worker over here to make some money because of the cost of living differences. You might find a Polish Stonemason for £7.50 an hour and he could have 30 years experience, but according to you, either he's a rip off because you can get a Bulgarian for cash for £7.25 an hour, or every English Stonemason is a rip off merchant because they charge >£20 an hour. (* I don't know how much stonemasons cost - it's just a theoretical set of values)

I would pay more for some one to do a good job first time round than a cheaper price for some one who does not do it right and has to keep coming back
sometimes known as a premium....

BobProperty

plumb1 - "suits you plumbing" ? :rotfl:

Seriously -
Plumber by Appointment
Plumber available at a time to suit you - Weekend appointments are our norm - Flexible times to fit in with your busy lifestyle

you get the idea, hopefully.

derrick

BobProperty wrote:

plumb1 - "suits you plumbing" ? :rotfl:

Seriously -
Plumber by Appointment
Plumber available at a time to suit you - Weekend appointments are our norm - Flexible times to fit in with your busy lifestyle

you get the idea, hopefully.

But his norm is EXTRA for doing his,(only), weekend work

BobProperty

derrick wrote:

But his norm is EXTRA for doing his,(only), weekend work

You just don't get this do you?

Until you establish the norm, you can not say what is EXTRA.

Tell me what the normal rate is for a plumber in Lancashire/Cheshire and we can continue this discussion.

misgrace

mpython wrote:

another suggestion or two:---

"SAS plumbing"? (Saturday & Sunday!)

"SR Plumbing" (Semi retired. Meaning you've loads of experience but don't do silly hours any more)

"Time to suit"

"Time saving"

I like your suggestions, pity I am not a plumber or I would have nicked them

robby-01

BobProperty wrote:

You just don't get this do you?

Until you establish the norm, you can not say what is EXTRA.

Tell me what the normal rate is for a plumber in Lancashire/Cheshire and we can continue this discussion.

Bob you wont win with this guy he is clueless about business.
I never ever work sundays,i am not a churchgoer but I just try my best to spend sundays at home with the wife and kids.If I ever have to work and it is very rare .I charge the customer more ,I inform them of this before hand an 9 out of 10 agree to it as I am usually working to help them out.
If I work a weekend I almost always take a day of in the week to catch up at home does that make me a "rip of merchant" because I have charged a premium rate to help someone out on a sunday and then had the audacity to take time off for myself .
Being self employed is not 9 to 5 ,it aint even week to week .you only know what youve earned come the end of the year.
Plumb1 go for it, enjoy the time with the grand kids charge a rate your comfortable with and stick to it.Leave customers like derrdick to someone else they are usually not worth the bother anyway.
Thats the beauty of being self employed you get to choose WHO you work for as well as when you do it..

jockettuk

24_hour_sparks wrote:

what can i say but look at my name, ive built a v good reputation on my back and yes i get fed up going out all hours inc weekends but i dont ned to advertise etc anymore.
i charge about 30 percent less on a callout than any one else, ( my research tells me theres only 2 or 3 companys in my area that do callout) and i still do well from it otherwise i wouldnt would I

thanks andy

you anywere near aylesbury.. probably not as anyone decent lives miles away..